Our Story
Small Beginnings
We owe our beginnings to more than 370 funding supporters who saw potential in our brand from day one, each pledging between £50 and £500. They took a chance on us before we had even filled our first bottle, based solely on our brand values and story.
Their faith in Copeland was the anchor that allowed us to launch, and we remain profoundly grateful for the community that helped us find our sea legs.
The copeland distillery
In August 2019, after 9 months of meticulous restoration, we proudly opened the doors to our permanent home. Located just a stone’s throw from the historic Donaghadee Harbour - known in the 17th century as ‘The Merchants’ Quay’ – our 6,500 sqft distillery revitalised the former Picture House Cinema & Ards Bottling Company. After standing silent for over 20 years, these walls are once again filled with the spirit of industry and craft.
Our 125-year lease is more than a contract; It is our anchor to this community. It signals our deep-rooted commitment to this town and our ambition to share its rich maritime history with visitors from near and far.
The heart of our operation beats within our three bespoke copper stills: Betty, Hessie & Pam – named in tribute to founder Gareth’s grandmothers and mother. It is here we craft our award-winning spirits, from our Navy Strength gins to our signature Irish Whiskeys, the first of which we released in December 2024.
Every bottle we produce is a tribute to our surroundings. We take immense pride in sourcing our wild botanicals, which we carefully select for their unique coastal character, and our local fruits, which are harvested directly from the farms of County Down.
Whether you’re joining us for a guided distillery tour to uncover the secrets of our craft or simply relaxing in our coffee shop to watch the distilling team in action, you are part of the Copeland story. Our mission remains as clear as the Irish Sea; to create innovative spirits with taste at their forefront, while forever reflecting on our rich local heritage and community of our home port, Donaghadee.
The Islands - Our coastal spirit
Gaze out from Donaghadee Harbour, and you’ll see them – the Copeland Islands. These windswept shores are more than just a horizon; they are the true inspiration for our ‘coastal spirit’.
The island’s heritage runs deep, stretching back to the Viking Age when it was known as ‘Kaupmanneyjar’. Centuries ago, these islands served as a vital Norse trading post. As the ages passed, their rocky coves became a legendary playground for smugglers, who used the hidden inlets to traffic rum and whiskey from Scotland to the heart of County Down.
In the 19th century, long before the rise of the Belfast docks, the Copelands and Donaghadee Harbour stood as the primary gateway for shipping in the North of Ireland. Countless sailors and fishermen passed through these waters on voyages to the edge of the world, leaving behind a wake of stories – tales of forbidden love, fierce sea battles and daring adventure.
The beauty of the Copelands has always come with a shadow. This stretch of sea is as treacherous as it is storied, and many brave souls were lost to the shipwrecks that dot our coastline.
At The Copeland Distillery, we believe these stories deserve to be heard. We are here to honour the history by bringing the tales of those who sailed these waters back to the surface, to reflect the landscape by infusing the wild, salt-sprayed character of the islands into every bottle and to keep the legacy alive by ensuring the ‘coastal spirit’ of Donaghadee is never forgotten.
Guided by the past, crafted for the future.
Our work at Copeland is anchored by four defining values:
- Taste
- Innovation
- Heritage
- Community
At the heart of every spirit we craft is a deep respect for our surroundings. Wherever possible, we turn to the fields and shores of County Down to source ingredients that truly reflect our home.
While we are rooted in history, we are driven by taste.
Whether it is the bold, juniper-forward character of our gin’s or our award-winning range of Single Malt and Pot Still Whiskeys, our mission is simple: to create with innovation in mind & taste at the forefront.
We hope you enjoy drinking them as much as we enjoy making them, here on the east coast of Ireland, in the small, but mighty Donaghadee.
